Variable flow device

Abstract

A surgical handpiece having an active flow restrictor responsive to a feedback loop that can vary the fluid flow resistance through the handpiece.

1. A surgical system, comprising:
 a surgical console; 
 a handpiece, the handpiece coupled to the surgical console by an irrigation tubing and an aspiration tubing; 
 an aspiration fluid channel, with an enlarged portion located within the handpiece, coupled to the aspiration tubing; and 
 a movable flow restrictor in the enlarged portion of the aspiration fluid channel, the movable flow restrictor moving in response to a command provided by the surgical console to vary fluid flow resistance in the aspiration fluid channel in response to a sensed vacuum pressure in the aspiration fluid channel; 
 wherein the command provided by the surgical console to vary fluid flow resistance in the aspiration fluid channel is provided to the handpiece through a control cable connecting the handpiece to the surgical console; 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor is coupled to a linear actuator and wherein linear movement of the linear actuator moves the movable flow restrictor to increase or decrease a cross sectional area of the aspiration fluid channel available for fluid flow; 
 wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the movable flow restrictor in an automated, pre-programmed manner to increase or decrease a cross sectional area of the aspiration fluid channel available for fluid flow in response to the command provided by the surgical console; 
 wherein the command is provided via a feedback loop with input associated with pressure sensed in the aspiration fluid channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the aspiration fluid channel comprises a main flow channel having a first cross sectional area for fluid flow and wherein a portion of the main flow channel additionally comprises the enlarged portion having a second cross sectional area; and 
 wherein, at the enlarged portion, the aspiration fluid channel has a cross sectional area comprising the first cross sectional area and the second cross sectional area. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the movable flow restrictor moving in response to the command comprises the movable flow restrictor moving at least partially into the first cross sectional area of the main flow channel to reduce an area available for fluid flow in the aspiration fluid channel. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first cross sectional area comprises a round or oval geometry and wherein the area available for fluid flow in the aspiration fluid channel after movement of the movable flow restrictor at least partially into the main flow channel maintains a round or oval geometry. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the flow restrictor has at least one slot along which the restrictor moves. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable flow restrictor comprises at least one slot and wherein movement of the movable flow restrictor is at least partially guided by engagement of the at least one slot with at least one corresponding pin. 
     
     
       7. A surgical system, comprising:
 a surgical console; 
 a handpiece communicably coupled to the surgical console; 
 a flow channel, wherein aspiration fluid flow from the handpiece is at least partially aspirated through the flow channel; and 
 a movable flow restrictor configured to move in the flow channel to increase or decrease a cross sectional area for fluid flow in the flow channel, wherein the movable flow restrictor is configured to move in the flow channel in response to a command from the surgical console to vary flow resistance in the flow channel; 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor is configured to be moved to increase or decrease a cross sectional area of the flow channel available for fluid flow; 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor is configured to be moved in an automated, pre-programmed manner to increase or decrease a cross sectional area of the flow channel available for fluid flow in response to the command provided by the surgical console; 
 wherein the command is provided via a feedback loop with input associated with pressure sensed in the flow channel. 
 
     
     
       8. The surgical system of  claim 7 , wherein an actuator is configured to move the movable flow restrictor when the actuator receives the command from the surgical console to vary flow resistance in the flow channel. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the flow channel comprises a first cross sectional area for fluid flow and wherein a portion of the flow channel additionally comprises an enlarged portion having a second cross sectional area; 
 wherein, at the enlarged portion, the flow channel has a cross sectional area comprising the first cross sectional area and the second cross sectional area; and 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor moving in response to the command comprises the movable flow restrictor moving at least partially into the first cross sectional area of the flow channel to reduce an area available for fluid flow in the flow channel. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the movable flow restrictor comprises at least one slot and wherein movement of the movable flow restrictor is at least partially guided by engagement of the at least one slot with at least one corresponding pin. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the movable flow restrictor comprises a paddle that rotates to vary fluid flow resistance in the flow channel when the movable flow restrictor receives the command provided by the surgical console. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the movable flow restrictor comprises a paddle that rotates to vary fluid flow resistance in the aspiration fluid channel when the movable flow restrictor receives a command provided by the surgical console. 
     
     
       13. A surgical handpiece, comprising:
 a flow channel configured to aspirate fluid from the handpiece; and 
 a movable flow restrictor configured to move in the flow channel in the handpiece to increase or decrease a cross sectional area for fluid flow in the flow channel, wherein the movable flow restrictor is configured to move in the flow channel in response to receiving a command from a surgical console to vary flow resistance in the flow channel; 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor is movable to increase or decrease the cross sectional area of the flow channel available for fluid flow; 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor is configured to move in an automated, pre-programmed manner to increase or decrease the cross sectional area of the flow channel available for fluid flow in response to the command provided by the surgical console; 
 wherein the command is provided via a feedback loop with input associated with pressure sensed in the flow channel. 
 
     
     
       14. The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the flow channel comprises a first cross sectional area for fluid flow and wherein a portion of the flow channel additionally comprises an enlarged portion having a second cross sectional area; 
 wherein, at the enlarged portion, the flow channel has a cross sectional area comprising the first cross sectional area and the second cross sectional area; and 
 wherein the movable flow restrictor moving in response to receiving the command comprises the movable flow restrictor moving at least partially into the first cross sectional area of the flow channel to reduce an area available for fluid flow in the flow channel. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the movable flow restrictor comprises a paddle that rotates to vary fluid flow resistance in the aspiration fluid channel when the movable flow restrictor receives a command provided by the surgical console.